nonstructural measures are so important, but cannot be
implemented until the cost sharing problems are re-
solved.
The 1974 Act a/so directed the President to took into the
Princip/es and Standards applied to water resource proj-
ects, including the discount rates. What impact will this
have on Corps projects?
I don't think the national Principles and Standards are
going to have any major impact. At first we thought
they would be more severe, but now that we've put
together our regulations on how to develop the two ob-
jectives of national economic development and environ-
mental quality, we find we can adapt very nicely. One
of the things that's attractive to me is that if we do the
environmental quality analysis properly then the need
for a separate environmental impact statement (EIS)
on the same project would be lessened. Even if we do
not eliminate the EIS itself, we should be able to make
the document which we're now preparing much simpler
since we would save significant amounts of time and
money. Those people interested in the details of en-
vironmental assessments can go to the environmental
quality part of the project report document itself.
The Corps has traditionallyh made its flood plain manage-
ment services, which are nonstructural available to indi-
vidual communities upon request. Would this service not
become more effective on a regional /eve/?
Definitely, and we need to come to that soon. First, we
need the base data so that regional planners can have
the information at hand with which to make their plans.
the users' advantage if they offered a proposal. I would
The Corps can and should provide this service to the
hope that whatever the alternate proposal would be, we
States and other Federal, as well as local, planning
wouldn't have to collect the money.
agencies. It's important and we really ought to get on
While NEPA introduced a national policy of concern for
with that.
the overall environment, the Water Resources Develop-
ment Act of 1974 was more specific in its requirements,
While the public traditionally associates the Corps with
including nonstructural flood control measures. What
flood prevention, not many persons realize the extent of
progress has the Corps made?
Corps interest in supplying water to regions facing current
or future shortages.
Both the policy and conception of nonstructural solution
There's no question that many regions of the country
are excellent. That message has been well distributed
have potentially critical situations and when drought
throughout the Corps. From a practical standpoint,
conditions occur in these regions the problems will ap-
though, we don't seem to be getting very far because of
pear very rapidly. The most serious situation is right
the cost sharing features. To date there's been no na-
here in Washington. It would be devastating if we had a
tional policy set on what the cost sharing should be on
drought next year during the height of the Bicentennial.
nonstructural measures. Admittedly, the law sets forth
Actually, the whole Northeast region of the United
some limits, but the U.S. Water Resources Council has
the chore of coming up with a position which will be
States has a potential water shortage and the Southwest
already has its water problems. While there's ample
applicable to all elements of the executive branch. As
water in the upper Missouri now, there's no reason to
far as I know, the Council has been unsuccessful in get-
think that during a drought that area wouldn't be short
ting its recommendations approved. I'm disappointed
that progress has been so slow on this feature because
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